How to recognize online fraud?

We use it for practically everything. Through it we access e-mail messages, search for news, read books and comics, play games, shop, watch movies, series, short clips - the list goes on and on. Every good thing has its negative side. In this case, the Internet has a huge potential for the spread of fraud and false information.

If you are a regular visitor to the Internet, it is not surprising that at least once a day you come across a scam or content that seems very suspicious at first glance. Some are very obvious, others a little more sophisticated, and still others are almost impossible to recognize as complex scams. The last set is becoming more and more common, for which we can also thank artificial intelligence, which became generally available to every user a little over a year ago.

If you have correctly identified the fraud, great. However, in practice, the opposite happens - too much despite all the warnings and cyber security awareness campaigns, people still find out too late that they are the target of miscreants.

That's why the question "how to recognize online fraud" is right on point.

How to identify a fake website?

Creating a basic website is easy, domain registration is done in a few clicks and for only a few “cents” and in return, miscreants get a very good base with which to start passing on unwary and naive users. Because the process of creating a website is so easy, the Internet has become a breeding ground for fake websites. ChatGPT and similar "bots" have only accelerated their spread, and at the same time, fake websites are becoming more and more difficult to identify.

We can come across them by searching for a certain product, maybe obscure or currently the hottest one, or through ads that can also be played on authentic platforms, such as Facebook. Too many times I got a call from an acquaintance who found a great website through a Facebook post where he can buy a set of tools from a well-known brand for only a few tens of euros (instead of a few hundred euros). There are also half-price PlayStation 5s, maybe an RTX 4090 graphics card that normally sells for €2000, but only at that moment you can get it for a bargain €800 or some other absurdity. low price. Of course, the time is counted, because the time offer is limited.

The rule applies: "If something looks too good to be true, then it usually is." If you come across a website with suspiciously good offers, be careful. Start exploring. Read the product reviews if there are any and ignore those generic comments like “great product” “the device is exactly as described and still fast delivery” and similar.

If you don't know the website or if it's your first time shopping there, you can check its background on Google. To get started, go to Slovenian forums and find out if anyone has already bought/ordered services there. The more foreign the store, the more you will have. success, if you add for example “jetaspletnastrannateg.com scam reddit” to the end of the search string. On Reddit, you'll find tons of sub-groups that deal with online fraud, and you might find a conversation just about your website.

You can also check the background of the website at whois.com. Check the domain, how long the website has been registered... A short time is not necessarily an indicator of fraud, but it can still be a warning to dig deeper. On the allegedly fake website, look for the seller's or company's contacts. What happens when you call the number? "Google" the physical address as well and check that Janez Novak doo, which sells electronics, does not operate in some small candy store.

Payment methods can also be a good indicator. If you don't trust them, try choosing a cash on delivery payment method. You will have a few euros moreč costs, but at least you will be reassured when the package actually reaches you, or you will not pay in advance for something that you will never receive.

Fraudsters will also want to trick you with the statements of supposedly credible persons. We came across the example of Petr Poljanska, an entrepreneur from Ljubljana, who was used to promote someone's oil, another day he was an online expert for software, SEO or something else. They used an image that can be found on the internet and a most likely fabricated statement. You can verify each image by finding it using Google Image Search. You can see where everything on Google has already been used. It can be a stock photo, but the website loses credibility if it provides false information.

You can also be scammed on Amazon, eBay, Flea …

Don't be blinded by the name of the platform you're buying from. Their credibility does not mean that all offers are equally credible. In the last few months, Amazon has become a nest of third-party sellers, usually Chinese, who sell dreams. You may find great experiences under the reviews, but it's worth checking if that review is actually for the product you're buying. Amazon has problems with sellers mistaking legitimate products for fake ones but leaving the same reviews. It is best to buy products that are directly delivered by Amazon (fullfiled by Amazon) or by a seller you trust.

eBay has always been known for having a bunch of fake sellers who, for example, write in the fine print that they are only selling empty packaging or even just a photo of the product, of course for the retail price of the real product.

Even on Bolha, we have already come across fake ads, including those labeled No worries. When you want to make a purchase, you will receive a link or an SMS message that will direct you to complete the purchase on a third party (which will imitate the appearance of Flea) or to fill in certain required information. We hope that it is not necessary to emphasize that under no circumstances should you share your personal information, let alone financial information.

How to identify fake SMS messages and e-mails?

Phishing messages (fishing) are still the most popular tool in the portfolio of criminals. And these are becoming more and more sophisticated, which means that they will become more difficult to recognize with each passing year. Many times they send you a phishing message at just the right moment. When a colleague was testing a new mobile application of one of the Slovenian banks, he just received an SMS message that his account had been blocked due to suspicious activity. Of course, a link was attached where you should enter your information and thus verify your identity. The link was immediately suspicious to him, but we believe that many people in his shoes would click on the link in a panic.

Similarly, in recent months we have received moreč #141 message about failed delivery of the shipment. At first glance, the sender is Post Slovenia, but in the background it is a patient miscreant. If, like me, you are always expecting a shipment, a message like this at the right moment can quickly confuse you.

Those most advanced users first open each suspicious link, file … in a virtual environment, where they can make sure of its credibility. The average web user will not do this. There are also other signs of fake messages. Suspicious link is the first, then there are some grammatical errors, bad translations, strange compositions, foreign number and strange name of the sender.

If you get the impression of a lie, trust it. Nič it doesn't cost you, for example, to call the bank or the post office and find out what's going on.

Top tips for avoiding fraud

• Monitor transactions regularly.
• If you receive a suspicious Facebook message, even if the sender is your friend, do not open it and contact the person directly.
• If possible, use a single-use virtual card for online purchases, such as the one offered by Revolut, for example.
• You can check www.haveibeenpwned.com to see if any of your email addresses are compromised.
• And we emphasize once again: "If something looks too good to be true, then it usually is."

Cover image: Image by freepik